Yesterday was my first ever mammogram (which came back fine and clear, hallelujah!) and I thought I’d share a few thoughts for those of you who may be in the same boat — those of you who are mammogram first-timers or are nervous about scheduling your first-ever mammogram.

So here are answers and explanations to a few questions that I had.

Scheduling — ladies, we all know there is a certain time you are supposed to call to schedule your appointment. You will not go in right away. As a matter of fact, it took me two weeks to be able to get in. So I’d figure when you call it’ll probably be one to two weeks until your appointment.

Don’t wear any deodorant or powder. However, if you do forget, or just can’t avoid wearing deodorant before your appointment, they will just have you wash it off before having the procedure done. My mammogram technician explained these products can appear as cancer on the images, so that’s why they recommend you remove these products from your body.

So with that said, yes, can shower before the procedure (you don’t have to avoid soap ahead of time), and yes, you can wear a bra before the appointment.

With my experience, there was really no discomfort (you always hear the “horror” stories of how painful it is). Again, this was MY experience. Every woman is going to have a different experience. I thought the worst part was holding your breath (which I find difficult to do when I am nervous — which I was). They will take about 3 images/angles per side, so they will readjust your upper body accordingly (it’ll make you feel a bit like a contortionist). Like I said, the hardest part was just not being able to breathe for several seconds as they take each image.

If your insurance allows it (you may have to check with them ahead of time), get the 3D mammogram if possible. It takes images of each layer of your breast, so they have around 80 different layers of images they can check. As my awesome technician (Holly at UPMC WCA) told me, the older 2D versions doesn’t really differentiate between the “good” white areas in the image and the “bad” white areas.

If you feel you need moral support, bring someone with you. Being a first-timer with a family history of breast cancer, I was extremely nervous about the procedure (actually I was really more nervous about the results and not the procedure itself), so I brought my mom. She’s gone through it many times AND is a breast cancer survivor, so she was able to walk me through it ahead of time to ease my mind a bit.

One thing you should know ahead of time is they MIGHT ask for more pictures after your initial mammogram. As Holly told me, DO NOT freak out if this happens. They are just being super cautious to make sure there is nothing there. And if you are a first-timer like me, they don’t have any other baseline images to compare to in your history. So it’s hopefully nothing but them just being cautious. I was extremely fortunate and did NOT need to take any further images. I was cleared after the first set!

So with that said, if they are able to and offer the capability, wait for your results. First of all, you will have peace of mind without having to wait for a phone call or letter to know all is well. And secondly, IF they need to take further images, you are still there.

Bring your own deodorant. Once you are all said and done, you are free to put your top back and and apply deodorant. They do offer a spray deodorant for your use, but if you prefer your own, bring it.

If you wear glasses you will probably have to remove them (if you are having the 3D). There’s a plastic shield you have to place your face against as you contort into position.

They offer you a lead shield to protect your lower extremities if you would like it.

Procedure:You’re called back and asked how you would like to receive your results (letter, phone call, wait), and then asked to remove your top and put on a top-only hospital “gown.” (You can leave on everything waist down). Then once the technician prepares the room, she takes you into THE room. In the room was a mammogram machine, and the machine (behind a clear shield) the technician uses to take the scans. After asking you some questions about your health history, she will then position you several times on each side to take several different scans, all the while telling you when you can breathe (but don’t move), and when you need to stop breathing. After she is finished (at least this happened for me), she may show you the scans she took of you and walk you through them. Then you’ll go back to the changing area and wait, if you opted to wait, until the doctor reads your results. When you are done, get dressed, put on your deodorant — finally! — and go home and celebrate.

I hope this answers some questions for those of you who have never gone through a mammogram. It was a new experience for me, and I know for me knowledge is power. Having a basic idea of what to expect helps qualm the “fear of the unknown.”

So ladies, if you’ve been putting off your mammogram, please go get it done. It really isn’t that bad and it can save a life!

I think we can all agree this has been a harsh winter. The weather here has been brutal. Bitter cold. Feet upon feet of snow. There has been an abundance of sadness and devastation in the news.

I've experienced way too many deaths this winter - both in my own family and in the families of my friends. My grandmother passed away in January, then my mom's cousin died and, just a few days ago, my dad's aunt. I've had friends lose their grandparents, a brother, an unborn child.

I've found myself asking God, "How much more, Lord? How much more?" But I'm remind that His mercies are made new each and every morning. And my favorite verse in Jeremiah tells me he has a plan for me. We might not always understand, or see clearly, that plan, but He DOES have a plan for you and for me. We just have to have the faith to look for it.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Have faith, friends. God has a purpose for EVERYTHING in our lives! We just need to look for that purpose and hold on tight to it.

As I look at my white Christmas poinsettia, I'm reminded of a beautiful story I once heard that has to do with the legend of the poinsettia:

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy."I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.~ Author Unknown ~

I've also heard say the red symbolizes Christ's blood He shed for us on the cross, and white stands for purity.

May this story always remind us that no gift is too small when given with the purest and most loving of intentions.

OK, it's no great secret that I am not a fan of snow. Especially large amounts that fall in less than 24 hours. Especially since my husband has a 40-45 minute drive (on a good day!) each way to get to work and back.

But, I can admit that when it falls nice and white and heavy and coats everything, it's beautiful! I can be thankful that God gave us such an amazingly beautiful and diverse creation. And He gave us such a great visual of His love and grace and mercy and forgiveness covering our ugly hideous sins.

I can be thankful that I have a warm home to live in, and that I don't have to live outside in all that "beautiful" snow. I can be thankful I can warm up a cup of hot cocoa anytime I want while I throw on my slippers to keep my toes warm, or pop a bag of popcorn and sit in my comfy living room while I watch that snow fall.

I can be thankful that this is ALL I have to deal with, as I think of the recent typhoon victims in the Philippines -- and Alexis, the little boy from the Philippines I used to sponsor through Compassion International and who is now a young man and I have no idea where he is or if he is OK.

It's all about perspective folks.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." -- Psalms 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. And if you have a little extra to be thankful about, how about hopping over to Compassion International, www.compassion.com, and donating to their disaster relief fund -- or any other reputable site you choose. We truly do have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Welcome to my blog world

I'm welcoming myself to the blogosphere. That's right. I've decided I just need to add my two-cents to the world out there. Ha!I just turned 37 a few days ago and have been married for almost 11 years now - to a great guy named Barkley! We have no kids of the two-legged variety, but we do have two fuzzy kitties who keep us entertained. I have a brother who lives in Alaska and a brother who serves in the U.S. Air Force. I have a mom who loves to read, just like me, and a dad who drag races. And I have great in-laws, including a master gardener for a sister-in-law and a trucker for a brother-in-law.My life is truly blessed. It can be a little wacky at times, like Saturday night when I saw some mysterious lights in the sky near Chautauqua Lake. I still don't know what they were! :)I'm glad you stopped by, and I look forward to what kind of journey lies ahead for us!